Tim Kirk

The 2016 vintage gave us a Shiraz Viognier that is laden with some of the most opulent, spice laden, dark berry fruit we have seen. And what better way to see this wine mature than in the Magnum format. This is one you don’t want to miss out on!

“…it is among the very greatest Australian red wines…This is a truly glorius wine…” 98 points – James Halliday

“This is a Shiraz Viognier of the highest order…this vintage sits confidently among the greatest syrahs on earth.” – Tyson Stelzer

Long time mailing list members will remember that the first Clonakilla Syrah we released was the 2006.

Our thinking was to have a second great wine that could challenge Hermitage in the Northern Rhone in the same way the Shiraz Viognier now gives good Cote Rotie a run for its money.

The Syrah always comes from the same parcel of vines on our vineyard, a wedge of North East facing vines perfectly positioned to catch the warmth of the sun for most of the day. The warm aspect means the Syrah often carries a darker, more brooding signature than the Shiraz Viognier.

The way we make the wine differs too. We leave out the 20-30% whole bunch addition that is standard in our SV ferments and of course for the Syrah we add no Viognier for co-fermentation. It is simply pure Shiraz grapes, destemmed but not crushed, fermented by their own natural yeasts, left for a full months on skins and then two years in 500 litre fine-grained French oak barrels.

Here is what Huon Hooke had to say about the 2016:

This is a wine of rare beauty. The colour is bright but not dark, and the aroma is spicy, vegetal, foresty and ultra-complex. Medium-bodied, intense and superbly textured, it has soft, gentle tannins and great elegance. Its appeal grows with every sip. It has an effortless natural charm.
Score: 97 ★★★★★

The 2016 vintage was generous and early. Late summer temperatures were consistently warmer than average and a larger than average crop proved to be a double blessing, slowing the ripening, which would have otherwise raced ahead, and filling the fermenters in our newly expanded winery with some of the most opulent, spice laden, dark berry fruit we have seen. A powerful vintage with great cellaring potential.

From deep within the vineyards at Clonakilla Tim speaks about the soil structure and its impact on the wine.

Is this the most highly anticipated release we have ever had? The volume of calls we have taken and emails we have received have been phenomenal. Well today is the day….the 2015 Shiraz Viognier and 2016 Riesling are now available for purchase.

2015 Shiraz Viognier
As seasons go, I’m not sure you can get better conditions than we had in 2015. There was higher than average rainfall in December and January. By late January things warmed and dried and the miracle began to unfold: Day after day of mid to high 20s, cool nights, light breezes, a steady, warm glow in the vineyard with no pressure from excessive heat, rain or wind. Ripening proceeded like a dream.

There is more of everything in the 2015. Intensely aromatic with a mysterious energy pulsing through the palate. Insistent and persistent. A grand cru if ever we have made one.

The critics agree:

“It is a thinker’s wine, it stops you, draws you in and captivates. Incredibly detailed and floral-scented, the sumptuous and finely poised palate is a masterpiece.” – James Halliday

“2015 is without a doubt the best to date in a long line of excellent vintages. And whilst the name and the vines may be comparatively newer, Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier is now every bit as important to the story of great Australian wine as Henschke Hill of Grace and Penfolds Grange.”

“This is a rare beauty, to see a syrah-based wine that delivers power in such an elegant way. 2015 is a really impressive vintage for Clonakilla across the board and this, the flagship wine, is every bit as great as it should be. 99″ – Nick Stock

Late last year we had a video crew here making a promotional video for screening on Jetstar flights. They had a drone buzzing around the estate which made for some great shots of the vineyard. Both Tim and Bryan contributed to the narrative. Have a look.